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VOL. XIII
LAURENS. S C, TUESDAY, MARCH 6,1898.
^ DY J^TEPHF.N CfcANE ? ?
CDP>'RlCUTLDy ltN9a&Y THE AUTHOR
CHAPTER L
Tb? girl was in tlu> front room on the
Ffcoud floor peering through the blinds.
From between the sluts she had a view
of tho road as it wended across tho
meadow to th* woods and again when
it reappeared crossing the bill, a half
inilo away. It lay yellow and warm in
the summer sunshine. From the long
grasses of the meadow came the rhyth
mic click of tho insects. Occasionally
frogs in the hidden brook made pecul
iar chug chug sound as if somebody
throttled thorn. The leaves of the wood
swung in gentle, winds. Through tho
dark green brnucbes of tho pines that
grow in tho front yard could be seen tho
mountains far to tho southeast and in
expressibly bluo.
Mary's oyos were fastened upon tho
littlo streak of road that appeared on
the distant hill. Her faoo was flushed
with exeitoment, and tho hand which
stretched in n strained pose on the sill
trembled bocauso of tho nervous shaking
of tho wrist. The pines whisked their
green noodles with a toft, hissing sound
against tho houso.
At last tho girl turned from tho win
dow and weut to the head of tho stairs.
"Well, I just know they're coming
anyhow!" tho cried nrguineutntivoly to
tho depths.
A voico retorted with tho shrillness
and mechanical violence of occasional
housewives. Tho girl swished her skirts
defiantly and returned to tho window.
Upon the yellow stream of road that
lay across tho hillside tbcro now was a
handful of black dnts?horsemen. A
cloud of dust floated away. Tho girl
flew to tho head of tho stairs and whirl
ed down to tho kitchen.
"Thoy'ro coming I They're coming!"
It was as if sho had cried "Fire!"
Her mother had been peeling potatoes
while seated comfortably at tho table
She sprang to her feet. "No; it can't
bo. How yon know it''j them? Where?"
The stubby knife fell from her bund,
and two or tbreo curls of potato skin
dropped from her apron to the floor.
Tho girl turned and dashed up stairs.
Her mother followed, gasping for breath
and yot continuing to (ill tho air with
questions, reproach and remonstrance.
Tho girl was already at the window
eagerly pointing. "There I There I See
'em I Soo 'em !"
Rnsbing to tho window, tho mother
Bcauucd for an instant tho road on tho
hill. Sho crouched back with a groan.
"It's thorn, suro as tho world. It's
them!" She waved her hands in do
spa iriug gestures.
Tho black dots vanished into tho
woods. Tho girl at tho window was
quivering, and her eyes wore shining
like water when the sun flashes. ''HushI
They aro in tho woods. They'll bo hero
directly." Shu bent down and intent
ly watched tho green archway from
whence tho road emerged. "Hush! I
hear them coming, " she swiftly whis
pered to her mother, for tho elder wom
an had dropped dolefully upon tho mat
tress and was sobbing. And indeed tho
p,jrl rwjj? )j(;o- JllQ^quick, dull trample
of horses. Sho steppeu itsio^Avith s?vi.
don apprehension, but sho bent her
head forward in order to still scan the
road.
"Hero thoy aro!"
There was something very thentrical
in tho 6uddcn nppeurauco of tbeso men
to tho oyes of tho girl. It was as if a
?cone had been shifted. The forest sud
denly disclosed thorn, a dozen brown
faced troopers in blue, galloping.
"Ob, look!" breathed tho girl. Her
mouth was puckered into an oxprossion
of strango fascination.
Tho littlo troop rode in silenco. At
its head was a youthful follow with
Homo dim yellow stripes upon his arm.
In his right hand bo held his carbino
slanting upward, with tho stock resting
u I mi his kneo. Ho was absorbod in a
scrutiny of tho country before him. At
tho head of tho sergeant tho rest of tho
squad rodo in thin column with oroak of
leatbor aud tinklo of stool and tin. The
troopers glanced for a moment liko cas
nal tourists and tbon returned to thoir
study of the rogion in front. Tho heavy
thudding of tho hoofs boenmo a small
noiso. The dost banging in Bbeotsslow*
ly sank.
Tho sobs of tho woman on tho bod
took form in words which, wbilo strong
in thoir note of calamity, yot expressed
a querulons montal reaching for some
near thing to blamo. "And it'll bo
Incky for us if wo ain't both butchered
in onr sleep?plundering and running
off horses?old Santo's gone?you soo
If he ain't?plundering"?
"Bat, ma," said tho girl, perplexed
and terrified in tho snmo moinont,
"they've gono."
"Oh, bnt thoy'll como back!" cried
the mother without pausing hor wail.
"They'll oomo bnok?trust thorn for
that?running off horsos. " She sudden
ly lifted horsolf and sat rigid, staring
at bor daughter. "Mary," sho said in
tragic whisper, "tho kitohon door isn't
looked." Already sho was bont for
ward to liston, hor mouth agape, her
eyes fixed upon hor daughter.
"Mother"? faltorod th? girl.
Hor mother again whispered, "The
kiteben door isn't locked." Motionless
and mate, thoy stared into oaoh other's
eyes.
At last the girl qnavered, "We bottor
?wo better go and look it" Tho moth
er nodded. Hanging arm in arm, thoy
stole across the floor toward tho hoad of
the stairs. A board of the floor oroaked.
They baited and exchanged a jook of
dumb agony.
At last thoy reached the. head of the
stairs. From tho kitchen name tho bass
humming of the kettle and froqnent
spntterings and ornoklings from tho
fire. These sounds wero sinister. The
mother and the girl stood incapable of
movement. "There's somebody down
thero," whispered the older woman.
Finally the girl made a gesture >t
on, Sho twisted ht.r arm .tmn
downward. Flic aerotesb'Gtl tfio kitchen,
" Who's tboro?" Her tuno was intended
to be dauntless. It rang so dramatically
in tho silence that >i sudden new panic
seized them, as if the Buspeoted presence
in tho kitoboa Bad oried oat to them.
Bat tlio t?irl ventured again, "Is there
anybody there?" No reply was made
savo by tho kettle and tho lire.
With a stealthy tread Mio girl contin
ued her journey. As sho neared tho last
Btop the Uro crackled explosively and
tho girl soreamed, but tho mystio pres
ence had not swept around tho corner
to grab her, so sho dropped to a seat on
n step and laughed. "It was?was only
the tiro," she Baid, stammering hyster
ically.
Then sho arose with Buddcn fort Undo
and cried: "Why, there isn't anybody
there. I know there isn't. " Sho marched
down into tho kitchen. On her face was
dread, as if Bhe half expected to con
front something, but tho room was
empty. Sho cried joyously: "There's
nobody bore. Como on down, mal" Sho
ran to tho kitchen door and locked it.
Tho mother oarne down to the kitchen.
"Oh, dear, what a fright. I've had 1 It's
given mo tho Biek headache. I know it
has."
"Ma," said tho girl, coming from the
window, "the barn door is open. 1
wonder if they took old Santo."
"Of?of course they havo?of conrso
?Mary. I don't boo what wo aro going
to do I I don't boo what wo aro going to
dol"
Tho girl Baid, "Ma, I'm going to see
if they took old Santo."
"Mary," oried tho mother, "don't
you daro 1"
Tho girl had unlocked tho door and
steppod upon tho porch. Tho mother
cried in despair, "Mary!"
"Why, tboro isn't anybody out
there," tho girl called in responso. She
stood for a moment with n curious smile
upon her faeo as of gleeful satisfaction
it her daring.
The breeze was waving tho houghs of
tho applo trees. A rooster with an air
importantly courteous was conducting
three hens upon ft foraging tcur. Tho
girl swung impulsively from tho little
stoop and ran toward tho barn.
Tho great door was open, and the
larved pig, which nsaally performed the
iffieoof a catch, lay on tho ground. The
,'irl could not seo into tho barn bocauso
if tho heavy shadows. Sho paused in n
listening attitude nnd heard u horse
munching placidly. Sho gave a cry of
lolight and sprang across tho threshold
then ?ho suddenly shrank back aud
gasped. Sho had confronted threo men
in gray seated upon tholloor, with their
legs stretched out nnd their hacks
gainst Santo'smanger. Tboirdnstoov
>red couutonnneos wero oxpandod in
?irins.
CIIAPTKR II.
As Mary sprang backward and scream
m1 ono of tho calm men in gray, still
grinning, announced, "I knowed you'd
boiler." Sitting thero comfortably tin;
threo surveyed her with amusement
Mary cau^?Vt nor broath, throwing
nand up to her throat. "Oh," sho
naid, "you?you frightened me."
"Wo'ro sorry, lady, but couldn't holp
it no way," cheerfully responded an
other. "I knowed you'd holler when 1
seen you coming yoro, but I raikmed
we couldn't help it no way. Wo hain't
((?troubling this yoro barn, I don't guess.
Wo been doing somo mighty tall Bleep
ing yoro. Wo dono woke when thoiu
Yanks loped past."
" Whero did you come from? Did?
did you escnpo from tho?tho Yankees?"
The girl still stammered aud tromblod.
Tho throo soldiers laughed. "No'm'm
No'm'm. Thoy never catch us. W?wm
in n muss down tho road yoro about two
mile. And Hill yero thoy gin it to him
in tho arm, kohpluok. And they pnst
od me thah too. Ow ions. And Sim
yoro, ho didn't got nothing, but they
ohasod us all quito ft little picco, uud
wo dono loso track of our boys."
"Was it?was it those who passed
horo just now? Did thoy chaso you?"
The mon in gray laughed agnin.
"What?thorn? No, indeodoo. There
was a mighty big swarm of Yanks nnd
a mighty big swarm of our boys too.
What?that littlo passol? No'm'in."
Sho became calm enough to scan them
more nttontivoly. Thoy wero much bo
grimod and vory dusty. Thoir gray
olothos were tattorod. Splashed mud
bad dried upon thorn iu roddish spots.
It apponred, too, that tho mon had not
shaved in many days. Of their hats
tboro was a singular diversity?ono sol
dier wore tho little bluo cap of tho
northern infantry, with corps emblom
and regimental number still upon it;
one wore a great brown slouch hat with
a wido hole in the crown, and the oth
er wore ho hat at all. The left sloove of
one man and tho right sleeve of anoth
er bad boon slit, and the arms wer?
neatly bandaged with a olenn cloth
"These hain't no more than two little
oats," explainod ono. "We stoppod tip
yere to Mis' Henvitt's?she said her
name w.d?and sho bind thom for ns.
Bill y ro, ho had the thirst come on
him, and tho fever too. We"?
Mary interrupted him without Inten
tion. "Are yon hungry?" sho askod.
Tho soldiora looked at eaoh other,
struck by some sudden and singular
?h?mo. They hung their beads.
"No'm'm," replied ono at lost.
Snnto in bis stall was tronquilly
cbowing and chewing. Sometimos ho
looked benevolently over at them. Ho
was an old horse, and thore was some
thing abont his eyes aud his forelock
wbioh oreated tho impression that bo
wore speotaoloa. Mary went and patted
his nose. " Well, if yon are hnngry I
can get yon something, " she told the
men, "or yon might come to the house."
"We wouldn't dnst go to the house,"
said one. "That passel of Yanks was
only a scontiug crowd most like?just
an advanco. Moro coming likely."
mo biTng-yoti H*ftlneTrHugfM "
"Well," said a soldier with embar
rassment, "wo hain't had much. If yon
could bring up a littlo snack like?just
a snack, we'd" ?
Without waiting for him to ccaso tho
girl turned toward tho door, but before
she had reached it sho stopped abruptly
"Listen," sho whispered. Her form
was bent forward, her head turned nnd
lowered, hor hand extended toward tho
men in a command for silenco.
Thoy could faintly hear the thudding
of mail) hoofs, tho clank of arms and
frequent calling voices.
"By cracky, it's the Yanks!" Tho
soldiers scrambled to their foot nnd
enmo toward tho door. "I knowed that
first crowd was only an advance "
Tho girl and tho threo men peered
from tho shadows of tho barn. Tho view
Sfttlng there comfortably the tfiree aur
vcyed her with (ummcmcnt.
of tho road was intercepted by treo
trunks and u littlo henhouse. However,
they could boo many horsemen Btream
ing along tho road. Tho horscmon wore
in blue.
"Oh, hide?hide?bido!" cried tho
girl, with a sob in her voice.
*'Wait a minuto, " whispered a gray
soldier excitedly. "Maybe thcy'ro going
along by. No, by thunder, they hnin't!
Thoy nro halting! Scoot, boys I"
They mado a noiseless dash into tho
dark end of tho barn. Tho girl, standing
by tho door, heard them break forth nn
instant later in clamorous whispers.
"Where'll wo hido? Whcro'll wo hide?
There hain't a placo to hido. " Tho girl
turned nnd glanced wildly about tho
barn. It seemed truo. Tho BtOok of hay
had grown low under Santo's endless
mnnobing and from occasional lovyings
by passing troopers in gray. Tho poles
of tho mow wcro barely covered, save
in one corner, where there was a little
bunch.
Tho girl espied tho great feed box.
Sho run to it and lifted tho lid.
"HeroI Hero!" sho called. "Got in
horo I"
They had been tearing noiselessly
around tho rear part of tho barn. At
her low call they came and plunged at
tho box. They did not all get in at tho
same moment without a good deal of
tangle. Tho wounded men gasped and
muttered, but thoy at last wero Hopped
down on the layer of feed which cover
ed the bottom. Swiftly and softly tho
girl lowered the lid and thou turned
like a Hash tow ..i d the door.
No ouo appeared there, so sho went
closer to survey tho situation. Tho
troopers bail dismounted and stood in
silence by their horses. A gray bearded
man, whoso red cheeks and nono showed
vividly above tho whiskers, was Btroll
ing about with two or threo others.
They woro double breasted coats, and
faded yollow sashus wero wound under
their black leather sword bolts. The
g?.v bearded soldier was apparently
giving orders, pointing hero and there.
Mary tiptoed to tho food box. "Thoy'vo
all got off their horses," she said to it.
A linger projected from a knotholu near
tho top and Kaid to her very plainly,
"Come closer." Sho obeyed, and then
a inn filed voico could bo hoard, "Scoot
for tho houso, lady, and if wo don't Be ?
you again, why, much obligod for what
you have dono."
"Goodby," bIio said to tho feed box.
Sho mado two attempts to walk
dauntlcH.sly from tho barn, but oaob
timo sho faltered and failed just boforo
sho reached tho point where sho coidd
havo boon Been by the blue coated troop
sta. At last, howover, she mado a sort
of a rush forward and went out into tho
bright sunshine.
The group of men, doublo broasted,
whooled in her direction at the instant.
Tho gray beai ded soldier came toward
her. She atonped. Sho seomod about to
run away, but tho soldior doffed his lit
tlo bluo cup and looked amiable. "Yon
live hero, I presume?" ho said.
"Yes," sho answorod.
"Well, wo aro obliged to camp hero
for tho night, and as wo'vo got two
wounded mou with us I don't supposo
you'd mind if wo put them in tho barn. "
"In?in tho barn?"
Ho bee.one a warn that she was agitat
ed. Ho smiled assuringly. "Yon nood
not bo frightened. We won't hnrt any
thing around horo. You'll all bo safo
enough."
Tho girl balanced on ono font and
swnng tho other to and fro In tho grass.
Sho was looking down nt it. "But?but
I don't think ma would like it if?if
you took tho barn."
Tho old officer laughed. "Wouldn't
sbo?" said he. "That's so. Maybe sho
wouldn't." Ho roflcctod for a timo and
then decidod cheerfully: "Well, wo
will havo to ask hor anyhow. Whoro is
sho?in tho house?"
"Yes," roplicd the girl, "she's in tho
honBe. Sho?aho'll bo soared to death
whon sho bcos you. "
"Will yon go and nsk hor thon?" said
the soldior, always woariug a benign
smile. "You go and ask hor and thon
oomo and tell me.''
Whon tho girl pushed open tho door
and (intend tho kitchen, sho found it
empty. "Mol" sho oalled softly. Thoro
was no nnswor. Tho kottle was hum
ming its low song. Tho knife nnd tho
curl of potato skin lay on tho floor.
Sho went to her mothor's room and
entered timidly. The lonely aspoot
of the honse shook her norvos. Upon
the bed thoro was a confusion of cover
ings. "Mai" oallod the girl, quaking
in fear that her mothor was not tbero
to reply. Bnt tbore was a sudden tur
moil of the quilts, and bor mother's
bead was thrust forth. "Mary," sho
cried in what seemed to bo a supreme
astonishment,"I thought?I thought"?
"Oh, ma," blurted the girl, "thoro's
over 1,000 Yankees in the yard, nnd
I've hidden three of our men in the food
I box!" TJje elder woman, however, noon
the- nppearaiico or her daughter had be
gan to thrash hysterically about on the
bed and wailed.
"Ma," tho girl exclaimed, "and now
thoy want to uso tho barn, and our men
in tho feed box. What shall I do? Ma.
what, shall I do?"
Her mother did not scorn to hear, so
nb; orbed was sho iu her grievous lloun
deriugs and tears. "Ma," appealed tho
girl. "Ma."
For u moment Mary stood silently do
bating, her lips apart, her oyes fixed,
Then sho went to tho kitchen window
and pooped. The old officer and the oth
ers were staring up tho road. Sho went
to another window in order to get the
proper view of tho road and saw that
thoy wero gazing at a small body of
horsemen approaching at a trot and
raising much dust. Presently sho recog
nized thom as tho squad which had
passed tho houso earlier, for tho young
man with tho dim yellow chevrons still
rodo at their head. An unarmed horse
man in gray was receiving their closo
attention. As they camo very near to
tho houso she darted to tho first window
again. Tho gray bearded officer was
smiling a broad smilo of satisfaction.
"So you got him?" ho called out. Tho
young sergeant sprang from his horso,
und his brown hand moved in a salute.
Tho girl could not hear his reply. Sho
saw tho unarmed horseman in gray
stroking a very black mustache and
looking about him coolly with an inter
ested air. Ho appoared so indifferent
that sho did not uuderstaud ho was a
prisoner until sho hoard tho gray beard
call out: "Well, put him iu tho barn.
He'll bo safe there, I guess." A party
of troopers moved with tho prisoner to
ward tho barn.
Tho girl mado a sudden gesturo of
horror, remembering tho throo men iu
tho feed box.
CHAPTER III.
Over in front of tho barn threo troop
ers sat talking comfortably. Their ear
bines were leaned against tho wall. At
their side nnd outlined in tho black of
tho open door stood a sentry, his weap
on resting in tho hollow of his arm.
Four horses saddled and aecoutered wero
conferring with their heads together.
Tho four bridlo reins wero flung over a
post.
Mary had intended to go and tell tho
commander in blue that her mother did
not wish his men to uso tho barn at all,
but sho paused when sho heard him
speak to tho sergeant. Sho thought sho
perceived then that it mattered littlo to
him what her mother wished and that
an objection by her or by anybody
would bo futile. Sho saw tho soldiers
conduct tho prisoner iu gray into tho
barn, and for a long time sho watched
threo chatting guards aud the pondering
sentry. Upon her mind in desolato
weight was tho recollection of tho threo
men in tho feed box.
It Boomed to her that in a caso of this
description it was her duty to bo a hero
ine. Plainly a horoine would take meas
ures to rescue tho four men. If she did
not at least make an attempt, sho would
bo false to thoso carefully constructed
ideals which were the accumulation of
years and dreaming.
Put tho situation puzzled her. Tboro
was tho barn with only ono door and
with four armed troopers in front of
this door, ono of them with his back to
tho lest of tho world engaged no doubt
iu a steadfast contemplation of tho calm
man and incidentally of tho feed box. 1
Sho know, too, that even if sho should |
open U40 Kiu. uOui' ifl.." ...... axiU
perhaps four, would turn casually in her
direction. Thoir ears wero roal ears.
?uo by ono sho saw the gorgeous con
trivances nnd expedients of fiction fall
beforo tho plain homely difficulties of
this situutiou. Sadly, ruefully, she
thought of tho calm man and of tho con
touts of tho feed box.
Tho sum of her invention was that
sho could sally forth to tho commander
of tho bluo cavalry, and, confessing to
him that thero wero throo of her friends
and his enemies secreted in tho feed box,
pray him to let thom depart unmolest
ed. Put sho was beginning to believe
tho old gray board to bo a bear. It was
hardly probable that ho would give this
plan his support, lt was more probable
that ho and somo of his men would at
once descend upon tho food box and con
fiscate her three frionds. Tho difficulty
with hor idea was that sho could not
loam its valuo without trying it, and
then in caso of failuro it would bo too
lato for remedies and other plans. Sho
roflectod that war mado mon very un
reasonable.
All sho could do was to stand ut tho
window aud mournfully regard tho
barn. Sho admitted this to horsolf with
a sense of deep humiliation. Sho was
not then mado of that fino stuff, that
montnl satin, which enabled somo othor
beings to bo of such mighty sorvico to
tho distressed. Sho was defeated by a
barn with ono door, by four mon with
eight eyos and eight ours?trivialities
that would not impedo the real hero
ine,
Tho vivid whito light of tho broad
day began slowly to fado. Tonos of
gray camo upon tho fields and tbo
shadows wero of load. In this morn
sombor atinosphcro tho firos built 1 y
tho troops down in tho far end of tho
orchard grow more brilliaut, becoming
spots of crimson color in tho dark growv.
Tho girl sat in tho now gloom of tk o
kitchen and watched. Tho soldiers lit a
lantern and hung it in t jo barn. Its
rays made tho form of tho sentry soom
gignutio. Horses whinniod from tho or
chard. Thero wns a low hum of hmnau
voicoB. Sometimes small detachments
of troopers rodo past tho front of tho
houso. Tho girl heard tho nbrupt calls
of tho sontrios. Sho fotched somo food
and ato it from her hand, standing by
tho window. Sho was so afraid that
somothing would occur that sho baroly
left hor post for an instant.
Once sho folt that sho had mado hor
mind to rcconnoitor at any rato. It was
night. Tho lantorn at tho barn and tho
campflros mado everything without
tboir circlos into masses of heavy mys
tic blacknoBB. Sho took two stops to
ward tho door, but thoro sho paused.
Innumerable possibilities of danger bad
assailed hor mind. Sho roturncA to tho
window and stood wavering. At last
sho went swiftly to the door, oponod it
and slid noisolossly into tho darkness.
For a moment she regarded tho shad
ows!. Down in the orchard the camp
fir en of the troops appeared preoisely
like a great painting, all in reds upon a
blatjk oloth. Tbo voices of tho troopers
still hummed. The girl started slowly
off B tho opposite direction. Her eyos
?mIAtmI Iu jxalara_BbA^atndied tho
anrr<noSs'ni front f?r ~r? moment Doloro
elio ventured upon u forward stop. Un
consciously bor throat was arranged for
a sudden scream. High in tbo tree
brancbes she could hoar tbo voico of tbo
wind, a melody of the night, low and
sad, the plaint of an endless incominuni
oable sorrow. Her own distress, tbo
flight of tlio men in gray?theso near
matters as well as all she had known or
imagined of grief?everything was ex
pressed in tins soft mourning of the
wind in tlio trees.
At first she felt liko weeping. This
song told her of human impotency and
doom. Then later tbo trees and the
wind breathed strength to her, sang of
sacrifice, of dauntless effort, of bard
carven faces that did not blanch when
duty came at midnight or at noon.
Sho turned often to scan the shadowy
figures that moved from tinio to time in
the light at tbo barn door. Ouco sho
trod upon a stick, and it Hopped, crac
kling in tbo intolerable manner of all
sticks. At this noise, however, tbo
guards at the barn made no sign. Final
ly she was where sho could seo tbo knot
holes in tbo rear of the structure gleam
ing like pieces of metal from the effect
of the light within. Scarcely breathing
in her excitement, sho glided close ami
applied an eyo to a knothole. Sho had
barely achieved ouo glauco at the inte
rior beforo sho sprang back shuddering.
The unconscious and oheerful sentry at
tbo door was swearing away in flaming
sentenoes, heaping ouo gorgeous oath
upon another, making a conflagration of
his description of his troop horse.
"Why, "ho v as declaring to the calm
prisoner in gr-^y 'you ala't g'it a horse
iu your hull-army that can
run -10 ruds with that thc;o little mare."
As in the outer darkness Mary cau
tiously returned to the knothole tbo
three guards in front suddenly called in
low tones: "S-s-8-h. Quit, Peto, hero
comes tho lieutenant." Tbo sentry bad
apparently been about to resume bis
declamation, but at theso warnings ho
suddenly posed in a soldierly manner.
A tall and loan officer with a smooth
face entered tho barn. Tho sentry sa
luted primly. The officer flashed a com
prehensive glauco about him. "Every
thing all right?"
"All right, sir."
This officer had eyes liko tho points
of stilettos. Tho lines from bis noso to
tho corners of his mouth were deep and
gave him a slightly disagreeable aspect,
but somewhere in bis face there was a
quality of singular thoughtfulnoss ns
of tho absorbed student dealing in gen
"Foil ain't not a horse."
eralities which was utterly in opposi
tion to tho rapacious keenness of the
oyes which saw everything.
Suddenly ho lifted a long finger and
, '.. "What's that?"
"That? That's u feed ooX, I soppoSC."
"What's in it?"
"I don't know. I"?
"You ought to know," said tho
officer sharply. Ho walked over to the
feed box and flung up tho lid. With a
swooping gesture ho reached down and
scooped a handful ? . food. "You ought
to know what's in everything when yen
have prisoners in your caro, " ho added,
scowling.
During tho timo of this incident the
girl bad nearly swooned. Her hand
searched weakly over tho boards foi
something to which to cling. With tin
pallor of the dying sho had watched tie
downward sweep of tho officer's are
which aftor all had only brought forth
a handful of feed. Tho result was n
stupefaction of bor mind. Sho was as
tonished ont of her senses at this spoc
taclo of three largo men motamorphosed
into a handful of food.
(Concluded next week.)
Cuban Tobacco.?The greater part,
in fact, practically al' of the tobacco
leaf raised in Cuba and not used by the
Cuban olgarmakt rs is shipped to the
United States. At certain seasons of
tho year the Havana hotels are tilled
with tobacco buyers from the States.
-?omo of them deal through brokers in
Havana, but some who know the coun
try and tho languago go out into the
tobacco districts, and deal directly
with tho planters, often buying a prom
ising crop beforo it is picked. Tbo to
bacco buyer has necessarily to bo a
good judge of tobacco. He goes down
Into tho very centre of tho bale of to
bacco ho Is examining, extracts somo
samples and tests them in different
ways. Tho first test Is that of smell
The Cuban tobacco has u strong and
peculiar odor. A little variation one
way or tho other makes the tobacco
.?nod or bad. After smelling It the
'he buyer is likely to roll a rudely COU
structud cigar out of the leaf and smoke
it. He will inhale tho smoke and en
deavor to determine exactly the flavor.
He will also examine the ash carefully
and test also the combustion of the
tobacco?that la, try to find out bow
long it will bold fire. It is a great an
noyance to a smoker who is talking or
writing, or otherwise engaged, to put
his cigar into bis mouth and find it
has gone out. No cigar over tastes
so good after it has oneo gone out, and
a fine Havana cigar is positively rank
when It has met such a catastrophe.
So ono quality sought for 's that of
holding lire. If a samplo smokeu by I
the buyer will keep lighted four min
utes It Is considered very good. Somo
will burn five minutes, and even longer
without being puffed,
?It is stated on German authority
that tho astounding numberof 2,0t)0.0()o
?Ines cyoa are made every year In Ger
many ond Switzerland, while one
Preooh house manufactures 1100,000 of
them annually.
?A well-knnwi engineer has laid
hofore tho governments of Spain and
Morocco a pr< ject for the construction
of a tunnel undor tho Straits of Gib
raltar.
?PerBons residing in the Dlstrlot of
Columbia have no voto there, but they
may voto in the State in which thoy,
THIS LA KU C1IY IIOHUOII.
lie Views and Opinions of a Pohi
Office Inspector beul lo luvestigate
i in < ?Iii rage,
tpoolal to The R< gisler,
KlNOSTKEB, S. C, Mund) 1.?The
uro ono learns about the Lake City
ssassin itiou tbo tui ro horrible it bo
>raes. That there was do real excuse
or the killing of the postmaster row is
(i assured laet, and there is no doubt
hat tbo real muraerers will suffer for
u-ir crime. The postoffice was burned
-.1 the same time that tho postmaster
^ as kill d. nnd this will bring the mat
or to the United States government.
? d ihere ?re now iloteotlves represent*
tig the United Stai.es in anil around
Luke City. It is or.ly a (| estlon of
imo when one or more of the members
? the mob will be found out and ar
ested, and then the mat ter of catching
he others will bo comparatively an
asy matter.
Tho following interview will show
hat thero was do real reason why
hiker should not have been postmaster
i Lake City, except that he was black
a misfortune not suffered by any
nit of his. l'osti llice inspectors Moye
ud 3ulla have been in Lukt> City for
lime time investigating tho matter,
?r. Moye was interviewed by your
irrespondent last night iu regard to
he matter. Ho talked freely and, in
? distance, told me the following :
" Th" claim that Bakei was incom
petent is unfou tided. A man who
holds a lirst-chiss ccrtlieato as a teacher
from the State of South Carolina can
ot bo incompetent. Such a eertificate
hiker held. He had taught school in
-everal graded schools in the Stat ??,
ind so tho claim that he was ineom
?ett nt is exploded. Ho may have
aeked business qualifications, but he
vas not incompetent. I havo letters
from him and they are written as well
is those from any business man ; the
?upitalizuth v*1, the punctuation and the
grammatical construction of them is as
?ood us any business man could do.
riie question of color did uot come up
it Washington whon H iker was ap
pointed. Ho was endorsed by good
ctt./.ens of tlic community. He was cn
?"i?i'tl by D as and Webster. I)e.as
worked through Webster aud did not
i ii W? hater that the negro was not a
resilient of Hake City. There was no
protest tiled at the department in Wash
ington ugainst bis appoiotue.it. It was
? ot known there that Huker was a ne
ro nor thut he, was not a resident of
Lake. City. He bad been postmaster
at Filing! am for a term under Har
bison, and so the department was not
it fault in appointing him. Those who
I'ecumni tided him alone are respon.-i
U?. The department hud the pt'Otostt
from the neople of Luke City anil from
k.iti aoii.ti Carolina delegation in Con
gress under advisement when the out
?age occurred. A summary dismissal
ipon receipt of protests could not hi
made. Baker must have an opportun*
y to defend himself against his an
tagonists. Tho department could noi
oaek down under lire. Had the mob
lulayed its action, there might not
nave been any need of such proeei d
ings to rid themselves of an obnoxiou
msimaster, for hail the charges Sled
against Baker been sustained he would
have been removed.
" People of the South mak ? mistakes
i n endorsing negroes for i filolal posi
tions and then trying to have them re
moved aftor they have been appointed.
Tuko the case 01 Judson Lyons, in the
Augmt.i (Ou.) pOStt'fllce squabble. The
prominent white Democrats endorsed
Lyons for a certain Federal position
1 nat they thought he wat. trying to se
er re, and wheu ho turned and used
those same recommendations in his at
? mpt to seouro the Augusta postmat
Li rship, he hud the drop on tin m.
Thep had unqualifiedly endorsed him,
and wht n he tried to get the posu Blot'
u??S those recommendations, they
raised a howl a'.'.d. BJftld that he was in
competent and unfit for the Otil30. 'ill14'
name, thing bus occurred in other places
in the South with the .-ome result. No,
sir ; I do not blame, the department for
tho,appointments that are not satisfac
tory to the people, but I blame, the peo
rth thomselvt s for recommending the
applicants.
?? o.iki r had been recommended by
responsible, prominent citizens, and be
svas competent to discharge, the duties
pertaining to the office of the villag?
of Lake City. Don't understand me
to mean that 1 am a ' negro's man '?
not by any means, but they aro citi
zens of this Union and aro entitled to
tho same privileges that the whites
aro.
"Other towns have put up with a ne
gro postmaster, and Lake City could
nave, done tho same thing. I regret
exceedingly that the white men of this
community should havo committed so
heinous a ci in e, especially as thero was
no need of it whatever."
Inspector Moyo bus been detailed to
investigate as many, or more, cases
in which negroes wero implicated than
any man in the service, and ho says
that'tho negroes, as a race, have a lady
terror of interfering with the. mails,
They fear tho United States govern
ment. Whito men, said he, commit
several times the number of crimes in
Interfering with the mails that the ne
groes do.
The outrage at Lako City has benu
tho chief topic of conversation in Wii
liamsburg County ever slnco its occur
rence It is condemned by all, con
doned by nono.
For somo time Kingstrco has bceu
threatened with the appointment of a
negro postmaster, and It is not known
what effect the Lake City matter will
havo upon tho appointment. Thoro is
an applicant for tho position in tho
person of ono of tho most prominent
white citiz -ns in the county, and one
who is a Republican but the appoint
ment has beim " hanging tiro " for some
months. Too citizens of the town
would ho pleased to havo tho white
gentleman appointed If there is any
change at all to ho made, but should
tho negro receive the appointment wo
feel sure that thero would bo no un
lawful outbreak among our citizens.
-Tho Winston Journal says : Tho
story is told of two Mormon elders as
happening in a town not far distant, in
which ono of thoir doctrines was given
a practical test. Tho story rolates
that especial emphasis had boon mado
in their sermons upon tho doctrine
that if thoy drank any doadly thing it
should not hurt them ; tho Lord boing
their especial protector. At tho ond
of tho sermon the pastor who had
courteously loaned thom his church,
arose and said : " Now brothron, wo
havo listened attentively to this doc
trino, and if by practical test you can
demonstrate this, wo will accept tho
doetrine. I havo hero a quantity of
Btryohnino which I will mix in water,
and if you drink it and survl o, wo will
believe." It Is reported that thoy did
not drink.
- Hudson's bay, wh oh Is now called
tho Mediterranean of North Amerloa,
drains a territory 3.000.000 square
luilfo.fl In Area, with vast risers flowing
k" to i> ;Smi thfl^fiiith, "rHiHM weat?
GOING TO THE 8AMK PLACE.
A Young Man Who Was Entirely
Too Confidential Wllll a Stranger.
Harper's Bazar.
A quii t-looking young man who had
been for some time reading a magazine
on a Western railroad train laid it
Beide, and was about to make himself
comfortable for a nap, when a young
man in the next seat turned around
and said, in a friendly tone :
" Nico day, isn't It ?"
" Yes, very."
"Still, It's kind o' tlresomo riding
.HOD or 000 miles at a Stretch, even in
line weather Got far to go yet V
"Only about 50 miles."
"Then 1 ? uoss we're bound for the
same place. Going to Keiiewance ?"
" Yes, I urn."
"That's so? I'm bound for tho same
burg. Mighty nice little place. Nice
people there, too. Ever been there be
fore ?"
" No, 1 have not."
" Well, you'll find it a bang-up nice
little towr, and folks 'II treat you well,
too, there?that's what they will.
Much acquainted there'.''"
" Very little. In faet, I know but
ouo family in the town."
?'That so? And what might their
name, be ?"
" Porsythe."
" Porsythe ! Why, I know the family
like a book. I s'pose you know Nellie
Porsythe V"
" Yesj I met her when she was visit
ing some friends in tho east, several
months ago."
"Oh, yes; I remember Nell did go
east on a visit. Well, you met a bang
up pretty girl and mighty nice one
when you met Nell Porsythe. 1 know
the whole lamily liko a book. Better
Call otj 'cm when you get to Kenewance.
They'll treat you well. Noll's about
tbo nicest girl in the place Didn't
you think her a blamed nice girl V"
" 1 liko Miss Porsythe very much."
"'Course you did ; couldn't help it.
She'll remember, yoo, too. Mabbe 1
can fix it so we can call there together.
I'm right at home at tho Porsytbeb'
and 1?1 ? well, seeing as you know the
family, I don't mind telling you that
I'm mighty sweet on Nell?dead gone,
in fact: yes, I am; that's straight I"
"indeed! And is your regard recip
rocated by Miss Posytbe V"
"Well, 1 can't say for sure, but I
rather think it is. But I will know
before I'm 48 hours older. Pact is,
I'm tuking a little run up to Kene
wance on purpose to bring about
things to a focus. Nell inmtsuy 'yes'
or 'no' to me before I'm 48 hours older.
If it's 'no,' it's good by Kenewanee for
me I I'll never want to see that town
again. Where are you going to put
up when you get to Kcwance V"
"Oh, ut any good hotel."
11 The Yerner bouse is tbo best.
That's where I am going to stay, and?
say, you go there and stay too, and I'll
take you round to see Nell this evening ;
that is, if you'll agree to clear out
ahead of me and give me a chance.
She'll be glad to see you. Awful nice,
friendly folks the Porsythesare. Here's
the train boy with the Kenewanee
papers. Ivt's see how things are going
In the old town."
Each of the young men bought a
paper, and in live minutes the talk
ative and confiding candidate for the
hand of Nellie Porsythe exclaimed :
"Lookee here! If this don't beat
time ! Listen to this: 'Invitations are
out for tho wedding of Miss Nellie
Porsythe lO Mr. Harry M. Hay mend at
St. John's Episcopal church on-.'
Thai's all I want to know, and more,
too. That knockt, mo out! 'Mr. Harry
M. Raymond!" hey? I'd like to murder
him ! No. 1 wouldn't ! 1 ain't mean
enough to wish any barm to a chap I
never saw, nor never want to sec now.
Say, I guess we'll not make that call
tonight. You can go if you want to;
I'm too badiy used up to go ; I'll clear
out of the town the hour I get there if
I can get a train. Ki newanee isn't big
onougr. .to hold me and that Hay mono
fellow, tod, uviT. if 1 don't bear him
any ill will. I doiA know ; I think 1
wouid bate blm If I saw him. I'm kind
o' rash and Impulsive, and 1 -uinvV
know what I might do. Hero we are
at Kenewanee ! I feel sick!"
They left the car together. A pretty
girl ciime hurrying forward.
"There's Nell," said the sick man
with a gasp, and his sickness In
creased when Nell, with shining eyes
and joyful face, exclaimed to bis
companion :
"Oh, Harry, I'm so glad to seo you !
I was afraid?oh, how do you do, Mr.
Parnum ? What an age It has been
since you visited Kenewaneo ! Let me
Introduce you to Mr Raymond. Oh,
you met on tbo train ? That was nice.
I'm glad you know each other. Tho
carriage Is waiting for us, Barry."
THK 11I0KO OK rilKHOUlt.
interesting Faetn Connected With
tho Iiife of the Maine's Gallant
Commander.
The whole country has joined In the
praise and commendation of Capt. Sigs
beo, commander of tho battleship
Maine. The conduct of this gallant
sailor since tho disaster to his beloved
ship has beon altogether free from any
thing which would bo objectionable
even to the most fastidious in buch
matters. Coolness, courago and dis
cretion has marked his courso. Since
tho disaster somo interesting fuctshave
been published in regard to Capt.
Sigsbee which r< fl "et greatoreditupon
his ability. It is said that be is one of
the few American naval olllcers who
possess a decoration given by a Euro
pean monarch. The Emperor of Ger
many tendered to him a decoration of
the order of the Rod Eagle In recogni
tion of Capt. Sigsbee's services to the
German navy in superintending tho
construction of a deep sea sounding
machine Invented by himself and con
sidered by the German government to
bo tbo bent In the world. Congress
passed a joint resolution autthorlzing
the acceptance of tho honor.
Another story relates to his talent, as
an artist. On one occasion in 187"?.
when The Dally Graphic, of New York,
was In tho height of 'ts short lived
success, a modest looking young man
called at tr U art department of the
paper at It* Hark Place olllco and sub
mitted a package of drawings for in
spection. The drawings were found to
be of decided merit and a comic series
from tbo lot was selected for tho front
pago, and the art editor notified the
artist, at his Brooklyn address, that
the drawings had been accepted and
that he wou'd bo given a placo on tho
art stafT at onco. Talent which eouhl
produce pood pon anJ Ink sketches .vas
scarce at that timo and the other mem
bers of the staff expected to seo "Mr."
Slgsheo, tako his placo among them.
He did not appear, and the art editor,
after some weeks of waiting, again
wroto to tho artlet offering tho placo
on the paper. A reply came to this
which read as follows: "Lieutenant
Commander Charles D Sigsbee, U. S.
N., presents bis compliments and bogs
to say fcuat as he is at present in com- ,
umou \a government shin ho.-?annot
^Aln position to kindlj^flML"
THIO SritUGULB IN ( UBA..
A Review off IllO Kreuts For tlio
liMttt Iiiree Years en the Island ot
t nun.
Atlanta ( (institution.
On February 24th last the Cuban
struggle readied its third anniversary.
In numbers, of course the insurgent
ranks are somewhat reduced, but in
fearless determination they aro still
characterized by tbo same lull xihlo
spirit which they carrh ii into tho Held
three years ago, and from one en I of
the island to toe Other the tires of l?de?
pent), nee still hum.
For the past few days tho Interest of
the American public ha* been centered
upon the problems growing out of tho
destruction of our battleship Maine;
but while the special commission is
faithfully endeavoring to ascertain tbo
ca..to of this horrible disaster it. may
not be amiss at this time to reviosv
brii lly tho principal developments of
tbo (Julian war since the breaking out
of hostilities. In making this review
it is not necessary to Inquire into tho
causes of tho war, for tnoso aro sulli
oiently well known already. On
Fobruui ?' 24th, 181)5, the Cubans raised
tho standard of revolt in the provinces
of Santiago aud Mantat.zas and notiilod
tbo home authorities that they would
submit no longer to the galling yoko
of Spanish despotism. In spito of tho
vigorous i ffortS of the home author
ities to put down the insurgents tho
revolutionary movement grew apace.
Some of tho most inlluental citizens of
the island, Including Gomez, Masso,
Rabi, Marti, Cisneros aud othors,
arrayed themselves under tho insur
gent banner. When the patriot forces
wore ready for organ./ition General
Maximo Gomez was placed in com
mand und hostilies commenced in
good earnest In vain Captain Gen
era. Callcjo sought to quell tho in
surrection Every Inducement wus
otTered to tho insurgents, but without
avail. Within two months from tho
time of the Cuban outbreak it became
evident to Spain that she. was in great
danger of losing her colonial posses
sion and that in order to saw it sho
must exert her best efforts. Accord
ingly, in April, 1805, Captain General
Martinez Campos took charge of affairs
on the island, displacing Captain Gen
eralCallejo. But in spite of tue prestigo
whlob ttiis renowned Spanisii utlicur
brought into the Held, be failed utter
ly to bubduethe insurgent forces. Ono
Cuban victory followed close, upon
another until finally at the end of ilio
tirstyear of hostilities Spain realized
ttiat in order to put down the uprising
she must change bor plan of campaign.
Thereupon Captain General Campos
was recalled home a d Captain Gen
eral Woyler appointed tu succeed him.
With the brutal and ferocious tactics
wbloh Captain General Woyier put
into effect on his arrival la Cuba tho
civilized world is familiar: but, in
spite of the savage in humanity of these,
tactics, tho Spanish butcher made
little improvement on the record of
his predecessor. He found that tho
spirit of Independence pervaded every
nook and corner of the island, and that
even tbo utmost resources of his
cruelty were po.verless tc. suppress It,
Of course with the death of the bravo
insurgent leader, General Macoo, who
sustained to General Goun z much of
tho same relation which General
Stonewall Jackson sustained to Gen
eral Eeo iu our own late war, tho
cause of Cuban Independence wavered
temporarily, but ere anotbi r month
hud elapsed it blossomed out again
with renewed strength and vigor. Up
to August. 1800, Spain had B Hit over
to Cuba not less than I2O.000 men,
while the strength of tho Cuban forces
barely aggregated moi'0 than 40,000
men. In a coo test so uneven it is little
short of marvelous that the Cubans
have managed to exist : and yet, in
spite of overwhelming odds, they havo
glorified the flag of free Cuba with
victories innumerable'. At tills lime
thero is no thought of giving up tho
struggle until Spain stands ready to
acknowledge the independence of tho
island.
bandy more that, six months havo
elapsed since Captain Gein '.al Weyler
was superseded in tho commaud oi *.A'0
Spanish fore.s in Cuba by Captain
General Blanco, and tho latter has not
yet had time enough to materially
modify tho plans of the former ; but
there is littlo ground to believe that
ho will succeed in accomplishing what
his predecessors have utterly failed tO
accomplish. Cuba is de..tin. I to ho
free. If S.min is not already convinc
ed of this fact she must be utterly
blind, not only to the undauntod spirit
of the insurgent forces, but to tho
limited extent of her own meager re
sources. With the boglnning of this
fourth year of the Cuban Struggle tho
outlook for tho insurgents is brighter
than over.
Hu: M ist a k i;s?IV? aciiers who get
sour and seoiil whon things il > not go
to suit them, make a big mistake.
People who leave their politeness nt
homo when they travel on railway
trains, make a big mistake,
Young people who put off becoming
Christians because they think tlu-y
have f>u years to do it in, make a big
mistake.
Men who aro rfraid to give their
wives a word of praise, for fear it will
spoil them, make a big mistake.
Parents who wa.lt their children to
keep out of the church until they are
old enough to understand all tbo doc
trines and decide for themselves, mukt
,? lilf mistake.
i?. rmors who fond their pigs and
cattle good corn, ami pay no attention
to what kind of books and pipers
their children are reading, make a big
mistake.
Young men who think thoy know it
all, and that father and inothor don't
know anything, make a big mistake.
Fathers who Whip their boys for
doing on the sly what they themselves
are doing openly, in>vk?? a big mistake,
People who exoeot to get to heaven
jnst because they h-ivo shaken hands
with preachers and had their name*
enrolled on tho church book, in iko a
big mistake.
?Cucumbers are native to tho East
Indies and aro grown in Cash in ore,
China and Persia. They wi ro much
esteemed by the ancients and aro com
mon in Bgvpt, whore a drink is ore
pared from them when they aro ripo.
?Garlic came from Asia and has been
used sinco the earliest, times. It formed
part of tho diet of tho Israelites In
E/vpt. and'was used ly Greek and Ro
man soldiers and African ponSantJ,
?A hotel keeper In a Hi assets hotel
was obliged tho other dav to buy
eighty pairs of shoes foi his euo^ts.
The porter hud decamp v1 with that
numbor p'aced in his chafe.
?Tho defense of Pel
still largnly Intrusted
only with bows and arrc
?Egypt's populatj
raore^than, doul